SECTION VI.
Sugriva well pleased again addressed Rāghava, the son of Raghu, saying, "O Rāma, this servant of thine, foremost of my counsellors, Hanumān, hath related (unto me), the reason of thy arrival in this lone forest. Thy wife, Maithili, daughter unto Janaka, separated from thee as well as the intelligent Lakshmana, and weeping (in consequence) was carried off by a Rāksha. Seeing for opportunities of doing mischief that Rāksha, having slain Jatāyu, hath caused unto thee the grief that comes of separation from one's wife. But thou wilt soon be relieved from the sorrow that comes of separation from one's wife. Her will I bring like unto the ravished Devaçruti. O repressor of foes, whether she be in the nether regions or under the sky, I will, bringing thy wife, make her over unto thee. O Rāghava, know my words to be true. O mighty-armed one, like unto poison, thy wife is incapable of being digested even by the gods and Asuras with Indra (at their head). O mighty-armed one, leave off sorrow, I will bring back thy beloved. From guess I find that it was doubtless Mithilā's daughter whom I saw when she was being carried away by that Rāksha of terrific deeds. She was crying, 'Rāma, Rāma, Lakshmana, Lakshmana,' and in the lap of Rāvana she looked like the wife of the Snake-chief. Seeing me along with my four counsellors stationed at the hill, she dropped down her scarf and her ornaments. All these, O Rāghava, I have taken and kept (with me). I will bring them. It behoveth thee to recognise them." Thereupon Rāma spoke unto the sweet-speeched Sugriva, 'Bring (them), at once, my friend. Why dost thou tarry?' Having been thus addressed, Sugriva swiftly entered a deep cavern in the mountain, with the view of doing what was dear unto Rāghava. Then taking the scarf as well as the ornaments. "Look at this," (Saying this) the monkey held them before Rāma. And taking the sheet and the ornaments, (Rāma) had his eyes filled with tears, like the moon covered by the dew. And from affection for Sitā, (Rāma,) his eyes filled with tears, deprived of patience, fell down to the ground. And placing the elegant ornaments on his bosom, he sighed again and again, like an enraged serpent in a hole. And seeing Sumitra's son at his side, Rāma shedding ceaseless tears, began to lament piteously, "O Lakshmana, behold this scarf and these ornaments which Vaidehi, while being carried away, let fall from her person to the earth. Surely Sitā, while being ravished, let these fall on a sward, for these remain as before." Thus accosted, Lakshmana spoke, saying, "I do not know her bracelets; I do not know her ear-rings. But I know full well her bangles on account of my always bowing down unto her feet." Thereupon Rāghava said these words unto Sugriva, "Tell me, O Sugriva, at what place didst thou see Sitā, while she, dear unto me as life, was taken away by the fierce-looking Rākshasa? And where doth that Rāksha, who hath brought on this high peril, and for whom I will slay all the Rākshasas, live? He, that hath carried off Mithilā's daughter, and roused my wrath, hath certainly for his own end, opened the door of death. Tell me all about that ranger of the night, that deceitfully hath carried away my dearest wife from the forest. My foe, O lord of monkey, will I to-day send to the neighbourhood of Yama."